Apple's AI Gamble Comes to the iPad mini

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What’s up, Tech Squad? From Apple's latest AI-powered iPad mini update (kind of) to Amazon's surprising new color Kindle, we're diving into the latest device shifts and trends. We'll also take a look at why Apple's passwords look like gibberish but are anything but random, and check out OnePlus's big design change that everyone’s buzzing about. Let's get into it!

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Apple's iPad Mini Finally Gets AI — But Don't Get Too Excited

Apple just released its first iPad mini update in three years. Sure, it's got the powerful A17 Pro chip from last year's iPhone 15 Pro, but Apple wants you to focus on something else: artificial intelligence. AI is the big new buzzword here. But here's the catch — Apple's AI platform, called Apple Intelligence, isn't actually coming until after the new iPad mini hits stores on October 23. And even then, the coolest features? They won't be here until sometime in 2024.

The A17 Pro chip makes the new iPad mini much faster and more powerful. But those AI features? They're a promise for the future — one that early buyers won't see right away. At launch, the main AI trick is going to be notification summaries. It might tidy up your inbox, but it won't exactly blow you away. It's hard to get excited when rivals like Google and OpenAI have been showing off much more impressive AI tools for months.

Even Apple knows it's playing catch-up. Some internal research, reported by Mark Gurman in his weekly Power On newsletter, shows that OpenAI's ChatGPT is 25% more accurate than Siri, and can answer 30% more questions. Still, if there's one thing Apple does well, it's scaling up. When Apple Intelligence fully launches, it'll roll out across almost every new iPhone, iPad, and Mac practically overnight. By 2026, pretty much every Apple device — from the budget iPhone SE to the Apple Vision Pro — will have AI baked in.

The iPad mini is just the first device getting a taste of this AI push, but it's not going to be an instant game-changer. What's frustrating is that most of the cool features — like smarter voice assistants and better notifications — won't show up until late this year or early next. For a company that built its brand on things that "just work," asking customers to wait for software updates feels a bit off-brand.

So, should you buy the new iPad mini right now? Honestly, not for its AI. The best reasons to pick one up are still the camera and processor improvements. Apple's AI might be overhyped today, but never count them out — remember how Apple Maps eventually got good? There's a comeback brewing here, just maybe not right away.

Amazon's Surprise: A Color Kindle Without the Hype

Remember when Amazon used to host huge launch events for all its shiny new gadgets? Well, not this year. Instead of a big flashy event, Amazon just quietly updated its Kindle lineup. The highlight? The Kindle Colorsoft — a $280 model with a color screen. Yes, for the first time, Kindle fans can see their book covers in full color and use colorful highlights as they read.

It's nice to see a color Kindle at last, but Amazon isn't making a huge deal out of it. Alongside the Colorsoft, the whole Kindle lineup got a refresh: a faster $160 Paperwhite, an upgraded $110 entry-level Kindle, and a minor update to the $400 Kindle Scribe. Even the Kindle for kids got a bump. Solid changes, sure, but it's clear why Amazon didn't bother with a big reveal.

Enter Panos Panay, the new product chief from Microsoft. Panay's mission seems to be making Amazon's devices business more sustainable — which means fewer splashy gadgets that fizzle out and more focus on core products. Under Panay, Amazon has quietly rolled out meaningful updates, like new AI features for Ring cameras. The Kindle updates fit this mold too. Still, the hardware division has its challenges.

E-readers like the Kindle face growing competition from bigger smartphones and cheap tablets — including Amazon's own Fire tablets. With phones like the iPhone 16 Pro Max pushing close to seven inches, who wants to carry two devices? On top of that, Echo speaker sales are down, the Ring drone has been delayed, and the Astro home robot hasn't found its place. Panay's got a lot of work to do.

For now, the Kindle Colorsoft is the clearest sign yet that Amazon wants to get back to basics. But with so much competition and dwindling interest in e-readers, Amazon will need more than colorful books to bring the magic back.

Apple's Gibberish Passwords Aren't Random — They're Cleverly Crafted

If you've ever wondered why Apple's auto-generated passwords look like a random jumble of syllables (like hupvEw-fodne1-qabjyg), you're not alone — and no, it's not just in your head. Turns out, those weird-looking passwords are carefully designed to be memorable enough for short-term use while still being secure. Here's the backstory.

In a 2018 talk, an Apple engineer explained that they wanted strong passwords that could be typed easily across all kinds of devices — even clunky ones like game controllers. To make that happen, they structured the passwords into two-syllable "chunks" (using consonant-vowel-consonant patterns) separated by hyphens. This way, it's easier for users to remember and type the passwords, especially when switching between devices.

But don't worry — these aren't real words from any language, just random groupings of letters. And it’s not all randomness: the passwords are checked to make sure there's nothing offensive, and they're carefully balanced to offer 71 bits of entropy, which is even stronger than Apple's older format. Plus, they meet the requirements of most websites.

So next time you're copying hupvEw-fodne1-qabjyg, know that it's not just a random mess — it's carefully crafted to be secure and somewhat memorable, if only for a little while.

OnePlus 13 Ditches Curves for a Flat-Edge Design — And We're Loving It

The OnePlus 13 might be getting... flatter. A leak from Weibo, quickly picked up by 9to5Google, suggests that OnePlus is ditching its signature curved edges and going for a flat-edge design. If true, the OnePlus 13 will join Apple, Samsung, Google, and others in embracing this simple, squared-off look. And honestly? We're into it.

The flat-edge trend kicked off in 2020 when Apple brought back the sharp, nostalgic edges with the iPhone 12. It was a callback to the iPhone 4 and 5, and people loved it because it offered a better grip and a cleaner, modern look. Samsung followed with its Galaxy S22, Google followed with the Pixel 9 series, and even Motorola got on board — unless you're talking about its "Edge" line, obviously. Now, it looks like OnePlus is hopping on the bandwagon too.

Let's be real: does the shape of your phone's edges matter if you're just going to put it in a case? Technically, no. But for those who care about how their phone looks and feels, flat edges make a difference. They're comfier to hold, easier to pick up, and just look sleeker. And since most phones are already adopting the iPhone-esque design, why fight it?

We're still waiting for an official reveal, but signs point to a China release of the OnePlus 13 later this month. Whether you love or hate the flat-edge trend, soon we'll see if OnePlus is staying ahead of the curve — or, more accurately, flattening out.

Quick Bits

• Apple's Cheaper Vision Headset on the Way: Apple is reportedly working on a more affordable Vision headset, possibly priced around $2,000, to launch next year. This model may have downgraded components compared to the Vision Pro, making it more accessible for a wider audience.

• Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro Leak: A new leak suggests the upcoming Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro will feature a curved display, enhanced battery life, and multiple color options. It's set to continue Xiaomi’s trend of high-performance health tracking wearables.

• WhatsApp's New Low Light Mode: WhatsApp has introduced a new low-light mode for video calls, allowing users to enhance their visibility in dark settings. The feature, currently available to select beta users, also comes with customizable chat themes.

• Gartner's Top 10 Tech Trends for 2024: Gartner released its list of top strategic technology trends for 2024, including AI trust and security management, democratized generative AI, and sustainable technology. These trends are poised to shape how businesses use tech to drive value in the coming years.